The Urban Legends Blog | Stories, Ideas & Guides for Legendary Days Out
Ready to plan your 2025 work Christmas party in Sydney?
Forget the tired old end-of-year gatherings—this year, treat your team to something they’ll genuinely look forward to. Whether you’ve got a crew of 5 or 55, securing a venue that suits everyone is always a challenge. But who says you have to stick to the traditional formula?
At Urban Legends Tour Co., we specialise in unique and unforgettable Sydney Christmas party experiences. From craft beer pub crawls and boutique wine tastings to axe-throwing sessions and high-speed go-karting adventures, we offer epic team activities that break the mould.
Venues book out fast, so now’s the time to get creative. Keep reading for our favourite Sydney work Christmas party ideas for 2025—guaranteed to impress your team and leave the group chat buzzing.
Stories, ideas & guides for legendary days out.
Pick a door. 80+ stories, 10 years of charters and tours across NSW and QLD, real venues, current pricing, hard-won tips. Wander as long as you like.
Every quote I send back is written by me personally, usually inside 2 hours on weekdays. Tell me your date, group size and vibe, I'll send three options.
Pick your kind of day out.
Eight categories, every post tagged. Find the trip you're planning, fast.
22 Best Sydney Work Christmas Party Ideas for 2026 (From $149pp)
Real venues. Real 2026 pricing. Group sizes from 10 to 100+. With luxury door-to-door transport on every single one, so nobody drives, Ubers 12 times, or plays designated parent. Pick a door, see what's behind it.
Your team has done another full year. They deserve something better than the third-floor function room and a tray of arancini. Sydney has more genuinely good Christmas party options than any other Australian city, but most ideas guides skip the part that actually breaks the day: how do you move 35 people across three venues without 12 separate Ubers and one missing finance manager?
That is what this guide solves. We have run charters and curated tour packages for Sydney corporate Christmas parties for ten years (210 five-star Google reviews and counting). What follows is the 2026 shortlist: 22 ideas with real venue names, current pricing where it applies, and the transport logistics worked out for you. Skim the quick-pick guide below, jump to the right tier for your team and budget, and book before September if you want a Saturday in December.
A real Urban Legends day, on film.
Filmed across our 2025 Sydney charters. The bus, the venues, the vibe.
Every quote I send back is written by me personally, usually inside 2 hours on weekdays. Tell me your date, group size and vibe, I'll send three options.
The 2026 Quick-Pick Guide
Jump straight to the section that fits your team. Pricing, group size, and transport included on every recommendation.
Every package, side by side.
The honest comparison most ideas guides won't show you. All prices are 2026, all-inclusive of luxury transport, and based on 11+ guests minimum (per-person rates fall as group size goes up).
| Package | Price pp | Duration | Min guests | Transport |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hunter Valley Wine Tour | $149pp | 9 hr | 11 | Included |
| Southern Highlands Wine Tour | $149pp | 9 hr | 11 | Included |
| Brewery + Distillery + Banquet | $150pp | 6 hr | 11 | Included |
| Lawn Bowls + Breweries | $155pp | 5 hr | 11 | Included |
| Inner West Brewery Tour | $179pp | 4 hr | 11 | Included |
| Mixed Bag Sydney Adventure | $199pp | 6 hr | 11 | Included |
| Go Karting + Breweries | $215pp | 5 hr | 11 | Included |
| Archie Rose + Breweries | $219pp | 5 hr | 11 | Included |
| Axe Throwing + Breweries | $225pp | 5 hr | 11 | Included |
| Cocktails + Italian Banquet | $300pp | 5 hr | 11 | Included |
| Sydney Harbour Sailing | $380pp | 4 hr | 11 | Included |
| Pure Charter (BYO venue) | From $700 | Half day+ | None | The bus is the package |
Mexican upgrade +$50pp. Gourmet banquet upgrade +$89pp. Christmas peak surcharge applies for 14 Nov to 26 Dec dates. Saturday rates 15% above weekday. Get a customised quote for your exact group, date and venue mix.
Out of Sydney, into legendary.
If your team has been good (or you want to make 2026 feel like a real reward), these full-day trips are the answer. You leave Sydney CBD by 9am, arrive at your first stop by morning tea, and roll back into town by sundown. The bus is fully climate-controlled, the driver knows every road, and nobody has to coordinate carpools.
Hunter Valley Wine Tour, Christmas Edition
Australia's oldest wine region, 2 hours from Sydney CBD, three boutique cellar doors, gourmet platter lunch, premium seated tastings. The original Sydney corporate Christmas party legend, still the most-booked package on our roster.
Best for: Teams that want the day to feel like an actual reward. Crews from 10 (14-seater Mercedes Sprinter) to 100+ (multi-coach combos). See the full Hunter Valley wine tour itinerary.
Southern Highlands Wine Tour
Cool-climate wine country, 90 minutes from Sydney through Bowral and Berrima. Three cellar doors plus a gourmet pub lunch in Bowral or a cheese platter at Cuttaway Hill. Easier on the bus journey than Hunter, just as good in the glass.
Best for: Teams who have done Hunter twice already. Wedding-planner crowds. Groups that want a slightly shorter trip with a slower pace.
Blue Mountains Adventure Day
Three Sisters at Echo Point, the Scenic Railway, a craft brewery in Katoomba and lunch with a view. Genuinely scenic, completely different vibe to wine tours. Works for teams that have a mix of drinkers and non-drinkers, since the headline is the landscape, not the alcohol.
Best for: Mixed teams, families, anyone who has been to one too many wine tours. See Blue Mountains tour options.
South Coast Wine Escape
The Sea Cliff Bridge, two coastal wineries, lunch on the headland and a brewery stop on the way back. The hidden-gem option. Smaller crowds at every stop than Hunter Valley. December weather is reliably stunning down there.
Best for: Teams that want the day to feel discovered, not packaged. See the South Coast wine tour.
"Booked the Hunter Valley wine tour for our team of 28. Jared and the team handled every detail, the driver was on time, the venues were ready when we arrived. Best work Christmas in 5 years. We'll be back next year."
Stay in town. Still legendary.
If your team is spread across the CBD and you want them home before 8pm, these inner-Sydney experiences keep the radius tight without sacrificing the vibe. The 18-seater Mercedes Sprinter Luxury (with LED party lighting and proper sound system) handles the multi-venue crawls best.
Sydney Harbour Yacht Christmas Party
The flex move. A luxury yacht charter on Sydney Harbour with a gourmet lunch, all drinks across the journey, return luxury bus transfers from your office or CBD pickup. The Christmas party your team will still talk about in March.
Best for: End-of-year client entertaining, exec teams, or any crew that has had a strong year and wants to celebrate it properly.
Inner West Brewery Tour
Three of Sydney's best craft breweries (think Young Henrys, Wayward, Willie the Boatman territory) plus a proper lunch. The Inner West has the best urban brewery scene in Australia and the bus loop between Marrickville and Newtown is built for it.
Best for: Younger teams, creative agencies, dev teams. Groups that want craft beer credibility and good food without leaving the city. See the Inner West brewery itinerary.
Brewery + Distillery + Harbourside Banquet
Two breweries, one distillery, finish with a harbourside banquet at sunset. The "best of both worlds" option, hits the craft side and the food side without doubling back across town.
Lawn Bowls + Breweries
Barefoot bowls at Petersham or Clovelly Bowling Club, two craft brewery stops, group lunch. Genuinely fun, low-stakes, photographs really well for the company Instagram.
Best for: Mixed-age teams. The introverts who hate forced fun still get to throw a bowl. The extroverts get the brewery stops.
Axe Throwing at Maniax + Breweries
Maniax Sydney for an hour of supervised axe throwing (yes, with actual axes, yes, fully safety-briefed), then on to two craft breweries with lunch. The viral activity option. Everyone has tried sip-and-paint, almost no one has thrown an axe with their CFO.
Go Karting + Breweries
Indoor electric karting (no fumes, no fuel, suits all licences), three brewery stops, lunch in between. Particularly good for sales teams where competitive instincts have been simmering all year.
Archie Rose Distillery + Breweries
Archie Rose Rosebery for a guided distillery tour and gin/whisky tasting, then two brewery stops on the way back. The most adult-feeling option in this tier. Reads as sophisticated without being stuffy.
Cocktails + Italian Banquet
Three cocktail bars (Maybe Sammy, Bulletin Place, finishing somewhere with a view), then a four-course Italian banquet. End the year the way you wish you ended every Friday.
Mixed Bag Sydney Adventure
One brewery, one distillery, one winery, one cocktail bar, finishing with a Mexican fiesta (bottomless tacos and margaritas, +$50pp upgrade). Built for teams that can't agree on one thing, so you do all the things.
The transport question nobody else answers.
Every other Sydney Christmas party guide gives you 18 ideas with zero logistics. We've moved 15,000+ guests across 10 years. A 35-person team across three venues without transport means at least 12 separate Ubers, two missing finance staff, and a 45-minute delay at every stop. Every package above includes a luxury bus and a professional driver who arrives 30 minutes early, holds the bus for stragglers (within reason), and gets everyone home safely.
See our Sydney charter fleet · Read our 10-year track record
Smaller budget? Still legendary.
Not every team has a Hunter Valley budget, and 2026 is genuinely tight for plenty of crews. Here are five ideas that come in under $100pp when you bring your own food/drink, with the bus as your one fixed cost.
Paint and Sip with Pinot and Picasso
Pinot and Picasso runs guided paint-and-sip nights at studios across Sydney (Newtown, Crows Nest, Bondi). Add a bus pickup and drop-off, and you've got a self-contained Christmas party for under $100pp. Particularly good for mixed teams where not everyone wants to be on the cocktails train.
Cooking Class + Bus Crawl
VIVE Cooking School in Rosebery or Sydney Cooking Class in the CBD. Two-hour Italian or Asian cooking class (with the meal you cook for dinner), plus a brewery on the way back. Great team-building under cover of dinner.
Cockatoo Island Beach BBQ Day
Ferry to Cockatoo Island, group BBQ pavilion booking, full afternoon on the harbour. Bring your own food and drink (BYO is permitted on the island and on the charter). One of Sydney's best-kept Christmas-party secrets.
Royal Botanic Garden Group Picnic
The Botanic Garden has dedicated group picnic areas with Opera House views. Cater it through Sydney Catering Co, charter the bus for pickup and drop-off, and you've got the photogenic Christmas party for under $80pp. December weather is usually on your side.
Strike Bowling + Pub Crawl
Strike Entertainment Bar at King Street Wharf for two hours of bowling, then on to two CBD pubs for dinner and a finishing drink. Old-school in the best way. Works as well for the IT team as it does for the C-suite.
The "must-do once" experiences.
Two more options that fall outside the usual brackets. Worth a mention because they're genuinely iconic and your team will reference them for years.
BridgeClimb Sydney + Group Dinner
Climb the Sydney Harbour Bridge as a team, finish with dinner at one of The Rocks restaurants. The cost is the BridgeClimb ticket itself. Add a charter pickup from your office and a charter drop-off after dinner, and your team has done one of the only Sydney experiences that genuinely qualifies as bucket-list.
Pure Charter (BYO Venue)
You've already booked the function room at the rooftop bar. You don't want a packaged tour, you want luxury door-to-door transport for your guests. Pure charter is just the bus, just the driver, BYO permitted. Half-day NSW rates from $700 (14-seater) up to $1,300 (53-seater). See full Sydney charter rates.
60, 80, 100+ guests? Yes, easily.
This is the question we get every November and almost no Sydney Christmas party guide answers: how do you actually move 80 people across three venues without it descending into chaos? Multi-vehicle combinations are how. The fleet works as one, both vehicles arrive together, both leave together, both drivers are on the same group chat.
The Multi-Bus Big Group Configuration
Standard combinations from the Urban Legends fleet:
- 42 to 55 guests: 41-seater + 14-seater Mercedes Sprinter VIP
- 56 to 68 guests: 41-seater + 27-seater Yutong D7 Executive
- 69 to 82 guests: Two 41-seaters (the King Long and the Bonluck)
- 83 to 100 guests: Two 41-seaters + 18-seater party bus
- 100+ guests: Core fleet plus 53 to 57-seater partner coach
The big-group package is the Hunter Valley wine tour or a Sydney Harbour brewery+yacht combo. We split the group across vehicles by department, by team or by random draw, your call. Get a multi-bus quote.
When to book for guaranteed December dates.
The single most-asked planning question. Sydney's first three Saturdays in December book out fastest. Here's the realistic 2026 timeline based on 10 years of pattern data.
The deposit to lock in is $200 (or $500 for jobs over $5,000). Final payment is due 7 days before the tour. Get a quote and lock in your date.
Decision treePick the right vehicle for your team.
Match your headcount to the right Urban Legends vehicle. All vehicles are climate-controlled, Bluetooth, USB charging at every seat (on 27-seater up). All include a fully licensed professional driver.
| Group size | Recommended vehicle | Best package style | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 to 14 | 14-seater Mercedes Sprinter VIP | Inner-Sydney experience or budget | Intimate, agile, fits anywhere |
| 15 to 18 | 18-seater Mercedes Sprinter Luxury (party bus) | Brewery crawls, yacht parties | LED party lighting, leather, sound system |
| 19 to 27 | 27-seater Yutong D7 Executive 2024 | Full-day Hunter Valley or Southern Highlands | Comfort coach, luggage trailer if needed |
| 28 to 41 | 41-seater luxury coach (King Long or Bonluck) | Full corporate Christmas party | Underfloor luggage, leather recliners |
| 42 to 100+ | Multi-vehicle combo | Major company events | Both buses arrive together, leave together |
What real Sydney teams say.
Three reviews from December 2025 and early 2026 corporate clients. Full Google review history at our Google Business Profile.
"Booked Urban for our 35-person Christmas party in the Hunter. Absolutely seamless. The driver kept us on time, the venues were ready, the platter at lunch was outrageous. Already locked them in for 2026."
"60 of us across two buses for our end-of-year. Both vehicles arrived on time, both stayed together at every stop, both drivers were brilliant with our guests. Best work Christmas in years."
"We had 22 of us for the axe throwing + brewery package. The Maniax instructors were great, the breweries were lined up perfectly, and we got back to the office in one piece. Our CFO won the axe contest, which we won't let her forget."
Frequently asked questions.
Real questions from Sydney corporate clients in 2025 and 2026. If you have a question that's not answered here, reply to a quote or email jared@urbanlegendstourco.com.
What are the best Sydney work Christmas party ideas for 2026?
The most popular 2026 Sydney work Christmas party ideas are Hunter Valley wine tours, Sydney Harbour yacht parties, Inner West brewery tours, axe throwing at Maniax with brewery stops, and cocktail and Italian banquet packages. Pricing runs from $149pp for full-day wine tours up to $380pp for luxury yacht charters.
How much does a work Christmas party in Sydney cost per person in 2026?
Sydney work Christmas party costs in 2026 typically run from $149pp at the budget end to $380pp at the premium end. Wine and brewery tours start at $149pp. Mid-tier active packages like axe throwing or go karting are $215 to $235pp. Premium experiences like Sydney Harbour yacht charters with gourmet lunch start at $380pp. All Urban Legends packages include luxury door-to-door transport.
How far in advance should I book for December 2026?
Book by August 2026 to guarantee preferred December dates. The first three Saturdays in December book out fastest, often by mid-September. Last-minute December bookings are sometimes possible but venue and vehicle options narrow significantly. A $200 deposit (or $500 for jobs over $5,000) locks you in.
What is the minimum group size?
Most curated Christmas party packages have a minimum of 11 guests. Pure charter bus hire has no minimum group size. Tour packages with venue, food and transport bundled together typically need 11+ to make the per-person economics work.
Can we organise a Christmas party for 60+ people?
Yes. Groups of 42 to 100+ are handled with multi-vehicle combinations: a 41-seater plus a 14-seater (55 guests), a 41-seater plus a 27-seater (68 guests), or two 41-seaters (82 guests). Larger groups beyond 100 use core fleet plus the 53 to 57-seat partner coach. All vehicles arrive and stay together.
Is alcohol included?
Tour packages (brewery, winery, cocktail) include all premium tastings at venues. Pure charter bookings allow BYO on the bus where the customer organises their own venues. Tour packages do not permit BYO because the venue tastings are the experience.
What if it rains?
Almost every package has weather-proof venues. Brewery taprooms, distillery cellar doors, indoor cocktail bars, restaurants. Outdoor day trips like Hunter Valley wine tours have indoor cellar doors at every stop. Yacht charters proceed in light rain. The bus is fully climate-controlled door-to-door.
Do you cater for non-drinkers, dietary requirements and allergies?
Yes. Every package includes non-alcoholic options at venues. Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal and allergen-aware menus are available with at least 7 days notice. Confirm dietaries when booking and we will brief venues directly.
Can we customise a package?
Yes. Standard packages can be modified, swap a brewery for a winery, add a karaoke venue, finish with a CBD cocktail bar, swap lunch for a harbour cruise. Custom requests are quoted individually and usually within 5 to 10% of the standard package price.
How do I get a quote?
Email jared@urbanlegendstourco.com or fill out the quote form. Quotes typically come back within 2 hours on weekdays. Three options (down-size, right-size, up-size) are sent for every enquiry.
Ready to lock in your 2026 Christmas party?
Three options on every quote (down-size, right-size, up-size). Quotes back in under 2 hours on weekdays. $200 deposit holds your date. We've done this 600+ times. Yours can be next.
or call Jared direct: 0434 363 911
Read next.
Three more guides from the Urban Legends blog if you're planning a 2026 day out.
5 Must-See Sights on A Private Sydney Bus Tours
Oh Sydney, why are you so pretty? Picking the sights on your private day tour can be a difficult task. Sydney is Australia’s largest city and there is so much to see. To make your life a little easier, as you know we love to do, we’ve assembled a list of places we love to take our guests on during our private Sydney bus tours. Here are the must-see sightseeing locations that you won’t want to miss!
Oh Sydney, why are you so pretty? Picking the sights on your private day tour can be a difficult task. Sydney is Australia’s largest city and there is so much to see. To make your life a little easier, as you know we love to do, we’ve assembled a list of places we love to take our guests on during our private Sydney bus tours. Here are the must-see sightseeing locations that you won’t want to miss!
The Classics: The Opera House and Harbour Bridge
Well, you can’t really visit Sydney without having a stopover at these two Sydney classics. The Sydney Opera House and the Sydney Harbour Bridge are just as iconic as they are beautiful to look at. We take almost our private Sydney bus tour guests to this location. There is truly no better reminder that Sydney is Australia’s most beautiful city than visiting these two spectacular sights. You won’t be disappointed, we can guarantee that!
A visit to Sydney is not complete without visiting its classics.
The Best View At Lady Macquarie’s Chair
Do you really want to see both the Opera House and the Harbour Bridge from one of its most iconic viewpoints? Ask to include a visit to Lady Macquarie’s Chair on your private bus tour. Located on the other side of Sydney’s famous Royal Botanic Gardens, it provides one of the best views in the city!
The epic view from Macquarie’s Chair, Photo by Photoholgic.
See the Action at Bondi Beach
Ah, Bondi Beach, what a beauty you are! Bondi Beach is Australia’s most famous beach by a landslide. It’s the perfect beach in many ways. It has soft waves that are just high enough to surf on that are meticulously lined by soft yellow sand that can always be found full of good-looking locals. Some would even say that the inhabitants of Bondi are just as beautiful as the beach they live in. It’s definitely worth heading over to Bondi to have a look at all of this beauty!
Bondi Beach, where is the beach is just as beautiful as its locals!
Local’s Favourite: Blackwattle Bay
Blackwattle Bay at Glebe’s foreshore is one of our favourite stops as not many tourists make their way there. Glebe is one of Sydney’s inner-western suburbs full of delicious restaurants and it’s also right along the waters of Blackwattle Bay. Why do we love this place so much? The view! Especially at sunset and in the evening, Blackwattle Bay offers a pretty light-filled view of Anzac Bridge and the city of Sydney. It’s the perfect spot to end a day of sightseeing with a group of friends and a few drinks!
Blackwattle Bay, a local favourite for sunset beers!
Try a Craft Brew in Sydney’s hippest suburb, Newtown
Newtown is Sydney’s version of Brooklyn, New York. Plenty of vintage shops, great restaurants with food from all over the world, arguably the best street style in the city and lots and lots of delicious craft beer! Sydneysiders (as the locals are called) flock to Newtown and its surrounding suburbs Marrickville, St Peters, Erskineville, etc, every single weekend. It’s the place to be for an Insta-worthy brunch, for the best vintage outfits or for a night out. We take Sydney locals on a craft beer tour every single week, we bet you would love it too!
Sydney is So Much More!
These five locations are just a few of our highlights. Sydney is so much more than a few sightseeing locations, it is also the perfect city to take part in an almost endless list of activities. Talk to our team of experts about your options for a Sydney Private Bus Tour and about adding one of the many, many activities that we have on offer!
Cover Photo by Dan Freeman on Unsplash
The 5 Coolest Sydney Day Tours For Groups
Whether you're visiting just Sydney or living in the city and looking for a fun day out, there are plenty of Sydney Day Tours to choose from. In this article, we'll dive into all the Sydney tour options for you and your group and help you figure out which day tour is perfect for you! See Sydney in a day, go adventuring in the Blue Mountains, taste all the wines in the Hunter Valley or the Southern Highlands, or stay close to your accommodation or home by spending your Sydney day tour in the inner west!
Whether you're visiting just Sydney or living in the city and looking for a fun day out, there are plenty of Sydney Day Tours to choose from. In this article, we'll dive into all the Sydney tour options for you and your group and help you figure out which day tour is perfect for you! See Sydney in a day, go adventuring in the Blue Mountains, taste all the wines in the Hunter Valley or the Southern Highlands, or stay close to home by spending your Sydney day tour in the inner west!
Photo by Christopher Burns via Unsplash
Best Day Tour For Groups: See the Sydney sights on a private bus tour or by bicycle!
Sydney is a large city, is it possible to see Sydney in a day? Of course! With that right tour guide that is. Sydney is jam-packed full of amazing sights, but getting to see them all in a day can be challenging. So can you see the Opera House, the Harbour Bridge, discover the hip inner-west and see one of the famous beaches? Especially if you are wrangling a group of mates! We say, Hell yeah! But how? Sure, public transport can be a way to go, but Sydney is notorious for its 1-hour bus rides everywhere and forget about parking several cars in the CBD.
We recommend hopping on a private bus tour (psssst, we organise a few epic ones!) and finding a company that is willing to customise your trip. A private bus tour is a fantastic option for both small and large groups. Anywhere between 4 and 52 people can hop on one a private Sydney bus tour and see the city. No more worrying about being on time or whether your group is having fun. At Urban Legends, we love customising tours to make sure that you and your group see everything that you want to see, something that is not offered by all Sydney tour companies.
Another option to see Sydney with a group is to move that body and jump on one of our bicycle tours. Accompanied by long-term Sydney locals, we show you the coolest spots. You know, those spots that are hard to find if you haven't lived in the city. Bike riding will also give your group the option of stopping to admire Sydney's best views. Who doesn't love that?! Did you know it is only a 40-minute bike ride from Sydney Opera House to Bondi Beach? You got this!
Explore the Blue Mountains with a group of mates! Image by Christopher Burns via Unsplash
Go on an Adventurous Sydney Day Tour In The Blue Mountains
One of our favourite escapes from the big smoke is a Blue Mountains tour. Whether you are looking to see the famous three sisters, Jenolan Caves or you want to visit one of the lesser knows waterfalls, the Blue Mountains National Park is full of epic places to explore. The hard part is, not getting to the Blue Mountains, but choosing between all the possible hikes, lookouts and waterfalls! If you get the opportunity, we recommend staying overnight and including a sunrise hike to one of the many excellent sunrise lookouts.
Whether your group is visiting the Blue Mountains for the first time and want to get the full tour or whether you are looking to organise transport for your group of experienced hikers to and from a hike, our buses can get you there.
Taste all the wines in the Hunter Valley
The Hunter Valley is the most famous wine destination in NSW and for good reason. We love the Hunter Valley so much that you can find us exploring boutique wineries in the region every weekend. Boutique wineries in the Hunter Valley are our favourite because these beautiful small wineries, which are often family-run, provide the nicest service and serve excellent wines! We are always learning something new about their craft and adore tasting the wines that the Hunter Valley is known for. If you need any more reasons why you should visit boutique wineries, read our blog post here!
The Hunter Valley is located at a 2-2.5h drive from Sydney, so planning a day tour from Sydney means that you will have to have an early start for a day trip! Even though it will be a long day, it is very worth your time. We love this destination so much that we even offer several customisable Hunter Valley wine tours! If you would rather have a shorter day tour, check out the scenic tours of the Southern Highlands below.
The gorgeous Southern Highlands is known for it’s beautiful flower gardens and great cool weather wines.
Scenic wine tasting in the Southern Highlands
The Southern Highlands is a wonderful destination all year round and is particularly popular in the autumn season due to its large number of deciduous trees. The colder climate also makes the region perfect for producing excellent Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris. Location at only 1.5h drive, it is actually our favourite NSW winery tour location for a Sydney day tour!
Become a craft beer expert in Sydney's Inner West
Who says that you have to leave Sydney for an epic Sydney day tour! One of the best ways to get to know the real Sydney is through bar hopping the Inner West of the city. The local craft breweries serve a few of Australia's best craft beers and allow you to soak up the local culture better than any other activity. The area of Sydney's inner west is full of beautiful murals and street art and there is more delicious food than you can ever finish!
Plan your own walking brewery tour by sticking to one suburb, Marrickville, or get your group to join one of our popular Sydney brewery tours. This tour combines all the best Sydney craft beers together in a meticulously organised day so your group can relax and focus on having fun. All our tours include a behind-the-scenes tour where you learn how these delicious beers get made and are combinable with one of the many fun add-ons such as axe-throwing, lawn bowls, go-karting, and more!
Feature image by Christopher Burns via Unsplash
Sydney in a Day: 5 Best Ways of Getting Around The Sydney Sights
Sydney is one of the most popular destinations in Australia and has many amazing sights. Do you want to see all of Sydney in a day? It is possible, but due to the many ways of getting around the city, it will be challenging! From the Sydney Opera House or the Harbour Bridge to Manly or Bondi Beach, there is a lot of ground to cover but it is worth it! After all, Sydney is one of the most liveable cities in the world and has the views to prove it.
Sydney is one of the most popular destinations in Australia and has many amazing sights. Do you want to see all of Sydney in a day? It is possible, but due to the many ways of getting around the city, it will be challenging! From the Sydney Opera House or the Harbour Bridge to Manly or Bondi Beach, there is a lot of ground to cover but it is worth it! After all, Sydney is one of the most liveable cities in the world and has the views to prove it.
Getting around Sydney is not always straightforward as the city is sprawled out across a large distance. With a variety of buses, trains, and ferries to take, it can be daunting to figure out the best way to navigate Sydney sightseeing. In this article, we are exploring the best ways to explore Sydney and take in all the sights. We know you don't want to miss out on any of it!
We will look at why public transport might not be your best option if you want to see as many Sydney sights in a day as possible, why a Sydney day tour could be a great idea and why riding a bike is a cool alternative that you might have not considered before!
Sydney Sights by Public Transport
Did you know that you can't take the train to any of the Sydney beaches? Public transport is the most popular way to get around the city but it's not always the most convenient. Many locals even opt to take an Uber instead of taking public transport as frequent transfers are not uncommon.
It also takes a while to figure out the myriad of trains, buses, and ferries in the city. Many people joke that Sydneysiders tend to stick to their own suburb. Ask any local about the Manly or Bondi Bubble and they will tell you how leaving their suburbs is just too much of a hassle. Neither Bondi nor Manly are connected to the city by train. Coincidence? You tell me! Besides, both suburbs have a lot to offer anyway, so why ever leave?
That being said, we do highly recommend getting on at least one of the ferries because the view of the harbour is simply breathtaking! To ride the ferry or any other kind of public transport in Sydney, you can either get an Opal card, which pays for all public transport, or you can tap on with your American Express, Mastercard or Visa credit or debit card.
Discover Sydney By Car
Having a car in Sydney is often necessary. This makes Sydney very different from other big cities in the world, such as Singapore, New York or London, where public transport is so well organised that you don't need a car. Due to the sheer size of the city, having a car in Sydney can make your life a lot easier, unless, as we mentioned before, you stick to your suburb, you can easily get to a train or you live close to the CBD.
For visitors of the city, we would never recommend getting a car as most of the sightseeing is done close to the CBD and around areas where it is difficult, dare I say, impossible, to find a parking space (unless you pay a pretty penny in one of the CBD parking garages). If you are only in the city for a day or two, getting a car is not going to be your best option.
Bike Riding Through Sydney
The CBD of Sydney is very walkable. You can easily walk from the Botanic Gardens to the Sydney Opera House and on to Darling Harbour if you have a reasonable level of fitness. If you would like to see any of the beaches or more local areas such as the Inner West (which has great craft beer breweries), bike riding through Sydney is a great option!
One of the reasons we love living in Sydney so much is due to the amazing vistas that we have on offer. You'll be amazed at the breathtaking landscape within a 10km radius from the Sydney Opera House. Riding a bicycle offers you a great way to stop along the way to take in these beautiful views!
Here at Urban Legends Tour Co we actually offer our own Sydney bike tour where we take visitors around the most popular sights. On this day tour, we ride along one of the many mountain bike trails in Sydney. Riding past the Sydney Opera House, the Harbour Bridge, the Sydney Fish Markets and take you into more local areas such as Blackwattle Bay (one of our favourite sunset spots) and much more.
Sydney's Hop On Hop Off Buses
While public transport buses might take you a little longer to get from hotspot to hotspot, a great alternative can be a Sydney Hop On Hop Off Bus. The concept is simple, you can 'hop on and hop off' as much as you like along a predetermined route that goes past all the important Sydney sights. This allows you to see the maximum amount of sights at your own pace, often being the most efficient way to discover a new city.
Get on a Private Bus Tour
We’ve said it before, Sydney is not the easiest city to go sightseeing. This is due to it being the largest Australian city, meaning that the sights can be far as 10km apart! For those traveling in a large group, a private bus tour would be our recommended way of exploring Sydney. A guided bus tour allows you to talk to your operator, sometimes even tailoring the tour to your needs.
When choosing the tour of your choice, make sure that you have a look at where the company is taking you, where you are going for lunch (there are touristy stops and there is also a great variety of local restaurants that are an experience in themselves) and whether the pick up and drop off spot is convenient.
We might be biased in loving our own Sydney private bus tours as we tailor the tour to whatever you would like to see. We take you to the best lunch locations and throw in a few epic local spots that you might never have found yourself.
What is the best way of getting around Sydney in a day?
So now that we have covered all of the different ways of getting around Sydney in a day, you might wonder, which one is the best? Well, we can't make that decision for you. It really depends on the type of travel that you prefer and the number of people that you are travelling with.
Do you want to experience a local way of seeing Sydney and step off the beaten track? Consider one of the Sydney bike tours.
Travelling in a large group and don't want to invest too much time into finding out where to go? A private bus tour or the hop on hop off bus is perfect for you.
Travelling by yourself and have a bit more time to explore? Get on one of the Sydney ferries and see Darling Harbour, the Harbour Bridge and Manly beach alongside the commuting Sydneysiders. It's quite the experience!
Whatever you choose, Sydney is a breathtaking city and we're confident you will have an amazing time. Dig your toes in the Sydney sand and take in the incredible vistas!
